NHTSA Complaint #759020 — 2000 DODGE DAKOTA

I AM THE DAUGHTER OF THE OWNER AND AM WRITING AND SENDING THIS BECAUSE MY FATHER IS ILLITERATE AND SPEAKS VERY LITTLE ENGLISH. HE IS 70 YEARS OLD AND RETIRED. MY PARENTS WERE TRAVELING BACK FROM ALBUQUERQUE, NM ON I-40 APPROX. 8:30 PM AT 75 MPH WHEN THEY HEARD THIS LOUD, TERRIBLE NOISE FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING MECHANISM STIFFENEND AND THEY SLOWLY MANUEVERED THE TRUCK OFF THE FREEWAY. PRELIMINARY REPORT FROM A MECHANIC STATES IT MAY APPEAR THAT THEY DRIVESHAFT BROKE INITIALLY AND IN RETURN, IT HIT AND TORE APART THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TRANSFER CASE. PREVIOUSLY, THIS VEHICLE HAS NO HISTORY OF HAVING ANY SORT OF PROBLEMS NOR HAD MY PARENTS HAD ANY INCLINATION THAT SOMETHING COULD BE WRONG, SUCH AS HEARING NOISES, SQUEAKS, ETC. THIS OCCURRED SO SUDDENLY. THIS VEHICLE ALSO HAD 90% HIGHWAY MILES VERSES 10% FLAT, GRAVELED OR DIRT ROAD. MY FATHER WAS UNLIKELY TO GO 4-WHEELING OR TO MISTREAT THIS VEHICLE (AS THE DODGE DEALERSHIP IS IMPLYING).*AK